Offaly duo make the cut for Ireland's summer tour

Offaly duo Michael Milne and Cormac Izuchukwu have been named in the Ireland rugby squad for this year's summer tour which includes games against Georgia and Portugal.

Crinkill native Milne, who started his rugby career with Birr RFC, is one of 11 uncapped players in the 32-man panel. Milne now plays with Munster, the prop forward having previously been with Leinster.

Former Tullamore RFC player Izuchukwu, who now plays with Ulster, already has one cap to his name after playing against Fiji in Dublin last November.

In addition to Milne, the other uncapped players are Tom Ahern, Shayne Bolton, Nathan Doak, Ben Murphy, Tommy O’Brien, Alex Kendellen, Darragh Murray, Paddy McCarthy, Stephen Smyth and Hugh Gavin.

The summer tour will consist of test matches against Georgia in Tbilisi on Saturday, July 5 (kick-off 6pm Irish time) and Portugal on July 12 (7pm).

This will be the sixth time that Ireland will face Georgia, while it will be an inaugural international senior men’s match against Portugal.

With Andy Farrell on duty with the British & Irish Lions, Paul O’Connell fills the role of interim head coach, while the touring party will be led by Munster scrum-half Craig Casey.

The Ireland squad will gather for a training camp in Dublin ahead of their departure to Tbilisi on Wednesday, July 2.

Ireland men’s squad – summer tour

Forwards (18):

Tom Ahern (Shannon/Munster)

Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(27 caps)

Finlay Bealham (Corinthians/Connacht)(51)

Jack Boyle (UCD/Leinster)(2)

Thomas Clarkson (Dublin University/Leinster)(6)

Gavin Coombes (Young Munster/Munster)(2)

Max Deegan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(2)

Cormac Izuchukwu (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(1)

Alex Kendellen (UCC/Munster)

Gus McCarthy (UCD/Leinster)(4)

Paddy McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)

Michael Milne (UCD/Munster)

Darragh Murray (Buccaneers/Connacht)

Tom O’Toole (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(16)

Cian Prendergast (UCD/Connacht)(4)

Stephen Smyth (Old Wesley/Leinster)

Tom Stewart (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(2)

Nick Timoney (Banbridge/Ulster)(3).

Backs (14):

Shayne Bolton (Connacht)

Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster)(captain)(18)

Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(24)

Nathan Doak (Banbridge/Ulster)

Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster)(8)

Hugh Gavin (Galwegians/Connacht)

Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster)(19)

Ben Murphy (Clontarf/Connacht)

Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)(10)

Jimmy O’Brien (Naas/Leinster)(8)

Tommy O’Brien (UCD/Leinster)

Jamie Osborne (Naas/Leinster)(7)

Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)(8)

Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan/Ulster)(38).

Training panellists: James McNabney (City of Armagh/Ulster), Jude Postlethwaite (City of Armagh/Ulster), Zac Ward (Ballynahinch/Ulster).